Vancouver Whitecaps sign right back Jake Nerwinski to contract extension

VANCOUVER – The Vancouver Whitecaps have signed right back Jake Nerwinski to a contract extension through 2019, with options for 2020 and 2021.

The 23-year-old from Lawrenceville, N.J., started 19 regular-season games for the Whitecaps in his rookie season. His five assists fell just one shy from matching Young-Pyo Lee’s club single-season record for a fullback and was second among rookies and third among all defenders.

“Jake has worked extremely hard, done a lot of the little things right, has shown a willingness to commit to our club, and has earned this new contract,” Vancouver head coach Carl Robinson said in a statement Friday. “Jake is a pleasure to work with day in, day out, and will only continue to push himself to get better.”

Nerwinski won the Whitecaps’ Most Promising Player Award in 2017.

“This means a lot,” Nerwinski said in a release. “This club has put a lot of trust in me. They said at the beginning of last year, if I showed well, played well, they would reward me, and I’m thankful to all the coaches and my teammates. I love this city, I landed in a great place, and I couldn’t be happier.”

The Whitecaps open their season March 4 against the Montreal Impact.